Combination table lectern and carrying case



H. A. FARBER Jan. 15, "1963 COMBINATION TABLE LECTERN AND CARRYING CASE Filed Sept. 26, 1961 F m M r T. a MB... A m? r G b o H United States Patent ()fitlee 3,073,057- Patented Jan. 15, 1963 3,073,057 COMBINATEON TABLE LECTERN AND CARRYENG CASE Hobart A. Far her, 3045 Highiand Sh, Allentown, Pa. Filed Sept. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 140,795 2 Claims. (61. id-85) The present invention relates to lecterns for use by public speakers and the like.

The need of a lectern by a public speaker is well established and when none is available, the speaker may be embarrassed or unable to comfortably hold the usual notes and other accoutrements of his profession or subject.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a demountable lectern which is in the form of an attache case when in condition for carrying.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a lectern unit which has ample space for holding papers, notes, and the like.

A further object is to provide a portable lectern unit, light in weight, sturdy in structure, and one which lends itself to manufacture in quantity at reasonable cost.

With these objects in mind, their fulfillment will be established upon consideration of the description of the invention which refers to the drawing attached, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the invention, in con dition for carrying,

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the top panel removed,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in section,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1,

-.,FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device, shown in a position of use, the dotted lines indicating an alternative position for the top panel, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the leg panels partially removed from the case part of the device.

It is to be understood that the drawing illustrates a preferred form of the demountable lectern and that, within the scope or" the claims which follow this description, numerous alterations may be made and modifications are possible Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the device of the present invention consists in a case 1% having a handle 11 on the upper end. The case It has end panels 12 and 13, upper and lower end members 14 and 1S connecting the adjacent ends of the end panels 12 and 13 together, and a back panel 16 extending over the edges of the end panels 12 and 13, and end members 14 and 15.

A front or top panel 17 is removable from the case and is disposed, when the case 10 is in carrying condition, with its end edge portions slidably engaged in opposed grooves 1-8 provided in the end panels 12 and 13. The lower end member is similarly grooved, as at 19 in FIG. 6, to receive the adjacent edge of the panel 17.

upper end formed to two edges 24 and 26, shown best in FIG. 6. The panels 21 and 22 nest in the case 10, as in FIG. 2, with either panel uppermost, in this case panel being uppermost. .The remaining space in the case 10,

5 adjacent and spaced from one end, is filled to the level of The panel 17 is provided with a ledge element 20 along 7 the nested panels 21 and 22 with a filler block 27 having a turn latch 28 for holding the panels 21 and 22 in the nested position.

Each panel 21 and 22 is provided with a slot 29 receiving an adjacent turn latch 34 mounted on the free edge of the respective partition 31, 32, which forms, with the adjacent end panels 12 and 13 of the case 10 slots 33 and 33' (FIG. 3) for receiving the edge portions of the legs 21, 22 when the lectern is assembled as in FIG. 5.

The top panel 17 has pins 50* projecting from the face opposite the face carrying the ledge 20. The pins 50 are selectively receivable in pairs of holes 34, 35 provided in the panel 16, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the panel 17 may be disposed either in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 5 or in the dotted line position.

The use of the demountable lectern of the present invention is obvious from the above description and illustration attached. It may be quickly and with ease assembled with the case 10 resting either on the leg panel edges 24, as in FIG. 5, or on the edges 26 (not illustrated) to provide a flat lectern, as the edges 26 are substantially parallel to the edges 23. In either positioning the panel 17 is adjustable and the space within the case 10 afiords storage for pertinent notes or exhibits.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination lectern and carrying case comprising, end panels, upper and lower end members, and a back panel, the upper and lower end members connecting the adjacent ends of the end panels and forming therewith a rectangular frame, the back panel closing one side of the frame to form a box like structure, partition members spaced inwardly from the end panels and parallel thereto and fastened to the upper and lower end members and forming with the end panels elongated slots, leg panels removably positioned edgewise in said slots, releasable means for retaining said leg panels therein, and a top panel member removably engaging the open top of the box like structure to close the same. I

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the removable top panel is adapted to be placed upon the back panel and is provided with means which are engageable with the back panel in different positions of adjustment when the device is set up as a lectern and in which the top panel is additionally provided with a ledge element to form an edge rest for a book or the like resting on the top panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,481,560 Ringer Jan. 22, 1924 2,054,098 Rich Sept. 15, 1936 2,156,489 Bonetti May 2, 1939 2,583,532 Havens Jan. 29, 1952 2,700,587 Godfrey Jan. 25, 1955 2,808,305 Jackson Oct. 1, 1957 2,934,388 Brown Apr. 26, 1960 

1. A COMBINATION LECTERN AND CARRYING CASE COMPRISING, END PANELS, UPPER AND LOWER END MEMBERS, AND A BACK PANEL, THE UPPER AND LOWER END MEMBERS CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE END PANELS AND FORMING THEREWITH A RECTANGULAR FRAME, THE BACK PANEL CLOSING ONE SAID OF THE FRAME TO FORM A BOX LIKE STRUCTURE, PARTITION MEMBERS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE END PANELS AND PARALLEL THERETO AND FASTENED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER END MEMBERS AND FORMING WITH THE END PANELS ELONGATED SLOTS, LEG PANELS REMOVABLY POSITIONED EDGEWISE IN SAID SLOTS, RELEASABLE MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID LEG PANELS THEREIN, AND A TOP PANEL MEMBER REMOVABLY ENGAGING THE OPEN TOP OF THE BOX LIKE STRUCTURE TO CLOSE THE SAME. 